Embracing Unity: The Power of Community in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Community as God's Intentional Design

In the beginning, God created humanity to live in community, as seen in the creation of Adam and Eve and the early church. This design is not just about being in close proximity but about doing life together, supporting one another, and collectively pursuing God. The essence of community is found in the shared journey of faith, where individuals come together to encourage, uplift, and hold each other accountable. This divine blueprint is evident in the stories of those who have found a home in a loving church community, like Callie and Nathan, who experienced the warmth and genuine love that define such a fellowship. [41:24]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt supported by your community. How can you extend that same support to someone else in your church this week?

Day 2: Intentional Effort in Unity

Unity within the church requires intentional effort, much like maintaining a car to ensure it runs smoothly. Relationships within the church need nurturing, and this involves actively working against the natural drift towards isolation and division. By seeking reconciliation, extending forgiveness, and bearing with one another in love, believers can maintain the unity that reflects the transformative love of Christ. This commitment to unity is not only for personal benefit but also serves as a powerful witness to the world. [48:47]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: Identify a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. What steps can you take today to begin the process of healing and unity?

Day 3: Witness Through Unity

The unity of believers serves as a powerful witness to the world of the transformative love of Christ. When God's people live in harmony, they reflect the hope and love that the world desperately seeks. This unity is not just a pleasant experience but a divine blessing that brings life and vitality to the congregation. By living in harmony, believers demonstrate the impact of a Christ-centered community, showing the world the beauty of God's design for His people. [44:32]

John 13:34-35 (ESV): "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reflection: How can your actions today reflect the love and unity of Christ to those around you, especially those who do not know Him?

Day 4: Engagement in Community

Participating in home teams, serving together, and engaging in Bible studies are vital for deepening connections and growing in faith. These practices are not just activities but opportunities to experience the blessing of community and to be a blessing to others. By actively engaging in these communal practices, believers can strengthen their faith and build lasting relationships that reflect the love of Christ. This engagement is essential for personal growth and for fostering a vibrant, unified church community. [54:41]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: What is one way you can become more involved in your church community this week? Consider joining a group or volunteering in a new area.

Day 5: Forgiveness as a Foundation

The forgiveness received through Christ empowers believers to forgive others and live in unity. As they remember His sacrifice through communion, they are reminded of the importance of extending the same grace and forgiveness to those around them. This act of forgiveness is foundational for maintaining unity within the church and serves as a testament to the transformative power of Christ's love. By embracing forgiveness, believers can overcome division and foster a community that reflects the heart of God. [53:42]

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound impact of community and unity within the church, drawing from Psalm 133. This psalm beautifully illustrates how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in harmony. Our church, Cornerstone, has been a testament to this truth for over 20 years, as we have witnessed lives transformed through the love and unity of our community. We are reminded that this unity is not just a pleasant experience but a divine blessing that brings life and vitality to our congregation.

We began by reflecting on the importance of community, emphasizing that life together is God's design. From the creation of Adam and Eve to the early church, God's intention has always been for His people to live in community. This is not merely about being in the same space but about doing life together, supporting one another, and pursuing God collectively. The stories shared by our members, like Callie and Nathan's journey to finding a church home, highlight the warmth and genuine love that define our community.

However, we acknowledged that maintaining unity requires intentional effort. Just as a car needs regular maintenance to function well, our relationships within the church need nurturing. We must actively work against the natural drift towards isolation and division by seeking reconciliation, extending forgiveness, and bearing with one another in love. This commitment to unity is not only for our benefit but also serves as a powerful witness to the world of the transformative love of Christ.

As we look to the future, we are called to continue this legacy of unity and love. By participating in home teams, serving together, and engaging in Bible studies, we can deepen our connections and grow in our faith. These practices are not just activities but opportunities to experience the blessing of community and to be a blessing to others.

Finally, we celebrated communion, remembering the ultimate act of love and unity through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. It is through His forgiveness that we are empowered to forgive others and live in harmony. As we move forward, let us commit to fostering unity and being active participants in this vibrant community, trusting that God will continue to bless and use us for His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. AiTdnQ757E&t=2484s'>[41:24]
2. Intentional Unity: Unity within the church requires intentional effort. Just as a car needs maintenance, our relationships need nurturing. We must actively work against isolation and division by seeking reconciliation, extending forgiveness, and bearing with one another in love.

3. Witness Through Unity: Our unity serves as a powerful witness to the world of the transformative love of Christ. By living in harmony, we reflect the hope and love that the world desperately seeks, demonstrating the impact of a Christ-centered community.

4. Engagement in Community: Participating in home teams, serving together, and engaging in Bible studies are vital for deepening our connections and growing in faith. These practices are opportunities to experience the blessing of community and to be a blessing to others.

5. Forgiveness as a Foundation: The forgiveness we have received through Christ empowers us to forgive others and live in unity. As we remember His sacrifice through communion, we are reminded of the importance of extending the same grace and forgiveness to those around us.

** [41:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:28] - Introduction to Series
[29:22] - Cornerstone's Warmth and Welcome
[31:27] - Callie and Nathan's Story
[32:34] - Psalm 133: A Psalm of Ascent
[34:21] - The Journey to Jerusalem
[36:03] - The Goodness of Unity
[37:55] - The Meaning of "Good"
[38:37] - Brotherhood and Community
[39:44] - Dwelling in Unity
[41:24] - Life Together as God's Design
[42:47] - The Challenge of Community
[45:37] - The Principle of Maintenance
[48:47] - The Work of Unity
[50:10] - Seeking Reconciliation
[52:19] - Colossians 3: Unity in Action
[54:41] - Engaging in Community
[57:02] - The Blessing of Unity
[58:27] - Callie's Continued Story
[61:27] - Commitment to Unity and Involvement
[63:15] - Communion and Forgiveness
[68:32] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"Growing together with other people and your knowledge of God's word will change your heart and your mind, transform it. And God will use that powerfully in your life, in the life of others." [00:28:56] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"When our lives have been changed by Christ and we do life together and we welcome people into that, it impacts their lives for eternity." [00:28:56] ( | | )

"Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. The first verse of this psalm is the key to the rest of it. Everything flows from this first verse." [00:37:09] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Life together is God's design. From the very beginning of his word, we see that Adam and Eve. Eve is created for God says it is not good for man to be alone. That is still true today." [00:41:24] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"From the very beginning of this to the very end, it's clear that God designed us to be in community. In fact, he loved Adam so much that he gave him Eve for it was not good for man to be alone." [00:41:24] ( | | )

"There is no life and there is no vitality as Christ followers in solo Christianity. How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity." [00:42:41] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"If you're not working on oneness, you're drifting toward isolation. That's true of marriage, and it's true of a church family as well." [00:45:37] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Everything in our world, from our cars, to our bodies, to our cities, to our nation states, to our church, faith communities require intentional work. And without it, everything dissolves towards disunity." [00:48:47] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Put on then as God's chosen people, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness. Remember meekness is the strength to do something and the discipline to only use your strength to serve others, not for your own gain." [00:52:19] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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